TOPICAL TREATMENT WITH INSULIN EYE DROPS IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE DRY KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS REFRACTORY TO ARTIFICIAL TEARS.

To evaluate the effectiveness of topical insulin eye drop treatment in patients with moderate dry keratoconjunctivitis refractory to the use of artificial tears with high hyaluronic acid content. The study assessed the corneal epithelial healing rate, reduction in symptoms and signs, tolerability, and adverse effects.

The study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital of Valencia (Spain)

A prospective, non-randomized study was conducted in patients with moderate dry keratoconjunctivitis refractory to treatment with artificial tears containing high hyaluronic acid content. Twenty patients were treated with topical insulin eye drops (1 IU/mL), administered four times daily. Patients were evaluated at baseline, every 2 weeks, and at the end of the treatment (8 weeks). The parameters evaluated included symptom scores (OSDI scale), the rate of epithelial healing and regeneration (fluorescein staining and Oxford scale), as well as treatment safety and tolerability

All patients showed a significant improvement in symptom scores, with an average reduction of 55% in the OSDI by the end of treatment. Epithelial healing, assessed using the Oxford scale, showed an average improvement of 2 points in most patients. No adverse effects were found, and the treatment was well tolerated in all cases.

Insulin eye drop treatment proved effective in improving symptoms and epithelial healing in patients with moderate dry keratoconjunctivitis refractory to artificial tears with high hyaluronic acid content. In addition to its efficacy, the treatment was safe and well tolerated. We consider insulin eye drops an effective and accessible alternative for the treatment of moderate dry keratoconjunctivitis.